On February 27, Girls Incorporated of Huntsville unveiled its new $1.1M STEM Cal Ripken, Sr. STEM Center located at Alabama A&M University, bringing educational materials including six Chromebooks, a 3D printer, and a customized curriculum in accordance with Next Generation Science Standards to K-12 girls of diverse racial and economic backgrounds.

“We know that women, especially women of color, are underrepresented in the area of STEM,” said Executive Director Stephanie Malone of Girls, Inc. of Huntsville. “We do our best to create opportunities. We provide a space, and we can generate excitement around the STEM initiative.”

“We stand on the threshold of a new era marked by the opening of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation STEM Center, a facility that is not just a room but a symbol of our dedication to expanding our footprint and serving more girls beyond our traditional reach. This endeavor aligns seamlessly with our strategic plan and vision for the future,” said Girls Inc. of Huntsville Board Chair Courtney Lynn Hamilton. “Let us also cut through the limitations that may have hindered the exposure of STEM education to young ladies of color in the past.”

Dr. Daniel Wims, President of Alabama A&M University, expressed excitement at the opportunity the new center offers for young girls interested in STEM, explaining that while the majority of the university’s students studying biology are female, 75% of students graduating from Alabama A&M with degrees in physical sciences are male. Wim encouraged Girls Inc. board members to create a program encouraging these young students to tour labs and other STEM facilities in the university.

“You don’t know how excited you are to see it until you see it: until you see the wide eyes and the attention. They have the long attention spans of undergraduate and graduate students,” Wim said, speaking of the young girls working diligently on projects relating to electricity, coding, and building throughout the room.

For more information, please visit www.ripkenfoundation.org.